Humidifier



y 4', 1938. F. F. BAHNSON 2,118,695

HUMIDIFI ER Filed April 27, v1933 I 4 Sheet-Sheet 1 May 24, 1938. I F, F; BAHNS N 2,118,695

' HUMIDIFIER Filed April 27, 193s 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 24, 1938.. hAHNsQN I HUMIDIFIER Filed April 27, 1933 4 Sheets-sheaf s Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE HUMIDIFIER Frederic F. Bahnson, Winston-Salem, N. (3., as-

signor to The Bahnson Company, Winston' Salem, N. 0., a corporation of North Carolina Application April 27, 1933, Serial No. 668,279

' 13 Claims.

This invention relates to humidifying apparatus, and particularly to a humidifier of portable type primarily adapted for domestic use and so constructed and assembled as to make possible its enclosure within a cabinet of ornamental form which may be of a style and finish to harmonize with furniture of various types and provide an attractive and useful adjunct to the furnishings of a room.

One object of the invention is to provide a portable 'humldifying apparatus which may be moved from room to room, as desired, and which embodies a humidifier unit and a water reservoir from which water may be fed in appropriate automatically controlled quantities to the humidifier unit, the feed means being so disposed and constructed, however, as to make possible connection with the water system of the house or other building in which the apparatus is used, as desired.

Another object is to provide a humidifying apparatus, the humidifier unit of which is capable of an evaporative or moisture diffusing efiect sufiicient to meet the needs of rooms of relatively large size, the unit being, nevertheless, of relatively small size and not of bulky or heavy construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a humidifier unit of the motor driven type and in which the vibration and noise produced by the unit, and particularly by the motor thereof, are reduced to the minimum.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a humidifying apparatus in which the outlet for the eflluent, moisture-laden air is so disposed as to direct the moistened air in a relatively confined stream, upwardly, and hence in such a manner as not to be objectionable to the occupants of the room.

Still another object is to provide a humidifying apparatus which does not depend for its proper operation upon the pressure of its water supply; which has no small orifices or other water passages which might become clogged with lint or other extraneous matter; and in which there are no water absorbent surfaces, the water being broken up or finely divided and diffused in the air stream by purely mechanical means.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent from the following detailed description, the invention comprises a humidifying apparatus including a casing divided into passages for entrant air and for efliuent, moisture-laden air; an assembly, which may be designated a humidifier unit, for creating or inducing an air current and for breaking up water into particles which may be taken up by the air current; a water reservoir and control apparatus for feeding water to such humidifier unit; sealing means whereby the casing is made water tight and ex- 5 cess moisture is returned to the humidifier unit, discharge means for directing the effluent moisture-laden air into the room in the desired manner, and other structural and functional characteristics, all as will be explained more fully hereinafter and finally claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure l is a vertical, substantially central, sectional elevation of a portable humidifying apparatus embodying the features of the invention. Figure 2 is a bottom view of the upper portion of the casing with the water pan, which forms the lower portion of the casing, removed; Figure 3 is 20 a fragmentary sectional elevation, taken substantially in the plane of line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and locking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, but with parts of the humidifier unit removed. Figure 5 is an en- 25 larged top plan view of the fan and the rotative parts of the-humidifier unit assembled therewith. Figure 6 is atop plan view of the humidifier casing with the cover of the water reservoir removed. Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of the water feed control valve and a part of the water pan with which it is assembled.

The humidifier casing comprises an upper portion I and a lower portion or water pan 2, and these casing parts are separably connected by suitably riveted and bolted straps 3. A diagcnally arranged partition 4 divides the upper portion of the casing section I into a passage 5 for the direction of the effluent moisture-laden air to a discharge nozzle 6, and a water reservoir 1 of a capacity not greater than that of the water pan 2.

The joints between the casing portions I and 2, and between the casing portion I and nozzle 6, are provided with sealing means comprising a cup or gutter 8 on one part .and a lip 9 on the other part extending into the cup or gutter. Thus, when water produced by the moisture collecting upon the walls of the passage 5 and nozzle 6 drains into the cups or gutters 8, it will provide an effective water seal at these points, and any excess of water will spill over the edges of the cups or gutters and drop into the water pan 2.

The water reservoir I is provided with a suitable removable cover IO having a handle II, and the water pan 2 has a drain and clean-out fitting I2 provided with a closure I3, and may also have an overflow riser or outlet I4 where connection of the apparatus with a constant water supply is desired, as will be later described.

Suitable braces, such as the angle iron I5 may be used to strengthen the casing, which being made preferably of copper or other non-ferrous, non-corrosive metal may require such strengthening.

Arranged substantially centrally of the lower portion of the upper casing part I is a preferably cylindrical partition member I5 which provides a support for the humidifier unit, presently described, and forms, in conjunction with a laterally disposed housing II, a passageway for the entrant air which is admitted through the open end I8 of the housing I! (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4). The partition member I 6 and housing II are supported in the casing portion I by brackets I9 and the connection of the open end I8 of the housing with the casing portion, thus providing a rigid assembly.

The open end I8 of the housing I1 is braced by a central strut which preferably takes the form of a block or strip 20 of sound absorbing material, such as the cellular compositions used for sound insulation in Wall constructions, the strip 20 being reinforced by metallic channels 20 which do not contact with each other.

A sleeve 2| formed of rubber, rubberized fabric or other appropriate sound absorbing and vibration damping material is removably connected by means of a strap and bolt arrangement 22 to the lower end of the member I6 which is provided with a sustaining bead 23, and this sleeve has separably attached to its lower end by a strap and bolt connection 24, similar to that just referred to, the humidifier unit or means for breaking up water into particles which may be taken up by anair current.

This humidifier unit comprises a cylindrical member 25 preferably made of aluminum, for lightness, to which the sleeve 2I is attached and which is provided with radially inwardly extending arms 26 joining a ring 26 which carries a sleeve 2'! in which the motor 28 is fixed and by which it is adjustably supported. Set screws 21' are provided for maintaining the motor in a desired adjusted position. The member 25 is also provided with radially outwardly extending arms 29 carrying posts or studs 30 to the lower ends of which is attached a toothed annulus 3| provided with an inwardly extending skirt 32. This toothed annulus is similar to that disclosed in the copending application of Jerry H. Simpson filed Nov. 29, 1930, Serial No. 499,067 (Patent 1,966,872, dated July 7, 1934). All of the parts of the humidifier unit thus far described are stationary or fixed parts.

The rotating parts of the unit, which functionally cooperate with these stationary parts, include a Ian 33 having a hub 34 fixed on the motor shaft 35 and carrying a downwardly axially extending water elevator member 36 in the form of an inverted truncated cone which extends into the water in the pan 2, the large end of the cone being provided with an oifstanding lip 31.

The blades of the fan 33 may be provided at their outer ends with a rim or ring 38 on which is mounted an annular disk 39 rotatable with the fan 33 and elevator member 36. The inner circumferential edge of this disk 39 is radially spaced from the lip 31 of the elevator member 36, and the annular opening thus provided forms a passage for the downwardly directed current of air induced by the fan 33. The outer circumferential edge of the disk is in close proximity to the teeth of the annulus 3| and functions therewith as hereinafter explained.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that all of the parts forming the humidifier unit are suspended from the member I6 by means of the sleeve 2|, and as this sleeve is of non-rigid construction and material, any vibration set up in the humidifier unit will be damped by the sleeve and will not be transmitted to rigid parts of the apparatus.

Water is fed from the reservoir I to the pan 2 by a pipe 40 provided with a strainer 4| and a stop valve 42, and the feed of the water in requisite quantities may be regulated by means of a feed valve 43 (see Fig. 7) having an inlet bore 44 in communication with the pipe 40 and an outlet bore 45 communicating with the water pan 2 and controlled by a valve member 46 provided with a rubber, fibre or other relatively soft conical plug 4! and carried upon one end of a lever 48 fulcrumed at 49 on a spring-pressed stem 50 that is axially adjustable by a screw and nut arrangement 5I52. At the other end of the lever 48 is mounted a float 53 which is supported by the water in the water pan 2. Obviously the feed of water to the pan to maintain any appropriate desired water level may be controlled by adjustment of the fulcrum 49 of the lever 48. The feed valve 43 is preferably so located in the pan 2 that adjustment of the fulcrum of the lever 43 may be accomplished by means of a square ended rod inserted from above through the efliuent air passage and engaged with the socket in the nut 52.

As hereinbefore indicated, the water feed, instead of coming from the reservoir I, as described, may be piped direct to the valve 43 from the water system of the building by a pipe 54 which is provided with a stop valve 55. When this system of supply is used, the overflow pipe I4 should be connected to a waste pipe to avoid damage in the event of a failure of the fioat valve.

Although connections for supply of water both from the reservoir I and from a constant supply are shown in Fig. 1, it will be understood that when the reservoir I only is to be used the pipe 54, valve 55 and riser I4 will be dispensed with. The riser I4 is not necessary in such case because the capacity of the reservoir I, though ample to provide for a normal full days run, is no greater than the capacity of the water pan 2, and hence no harmful flooding of the apparatus can occur in case the valve 43 fails to function properly. A failure of valve 43 may partially submerge the motor 28, which is of the waterproof type and will not be damaged, but will not result in an overflow of Water from the pan 2.

The cable 56 for supplying electric current to the motor 28 is run out of the casing through the passage for dry entrant air, where it is protected from moisture, to the switch (not shown) of a humidostat 51, which switch may be connected by means of a cable 58 and plug 59 with a suitable current outlet. The humidostat 51 may be of a type having essentially the structural and functional characteristics of that disclosed in my Patent No. 1,804,079, granted May 5, 1931, and is carried by the apparatus in such location that it is out of the zone directly affected by the moisture-laden air issuing from the nozzle 6.

The motor 28 is also so mounted that it is in the entrant dry air currentand hence is not subjected to the deleterious effects of moisture.

The whole aparatus, with the exception of the humidostat 51, is enclosed in an ornamental Wooden or other cabinet 60 having a removable top 6! which gives access to thereservoir I and feed valve 43. As shown, the nozzle 6 is preferably carried by the cabinet top 6| and is removablewith it, but this is not an essential feature.

The bottom of the cabinet may be open for passage of the entrant air, or it maybe closed, as shown, and the air may enter through-an opening 62 provided in the lower portion of the rear wall of the cabinet.

It will be noted that the passages for entrant air are so designed that they are more restricted than the passages for eflluent, moisture-laden air. This resultsin a relatively gentle eflluent air current and makes possible automatic elimination of large particles or drops of moisture which might be entrained in a more rapidly flowing air stream. Moreover, the walls and partitions for the most part forming the effluent air passages present flat and angular surfaces to the moisture-laden air, and this is important for the reason that such surfaces are better suited to retain the objectionable large particles or drops of moisture than are curved surfaces. Furthermore, the cylindrical member l6 presenting no angles to the entrant air tends to a rapid influx and thus aids in maintaining eiiicient operation of the apparatus.

In operation, the pan 2 is filled with water to the desired level with respect to the elevator member or cone 36 and this level is maintained by a proper setting .of the float 53 and valve element 46. Then, with the motor running, the rapid rotation of the cone 36 will elevate a film of water to be thrown olf by the lip 31 onto the disc 39 which is also rotating and which, by centrifugal force projects the water violently against the stationary teeth of the annulus 3| by which the water is broken up into a fine mist. Meanwhile, the rotation of the fan 33 causes air to be drawn downwardly through the'housing H and cylindrical member l6 and forced toward the bottom of the pan from which it rises and picks up the mist produced at the toothed annulus on its passage to the nozzle 6. Excess water raised and discharged by the cone 36 and disc 39, and particles too large to be evaporated by'the efiluent air current drain back into the pan 2. The

outer ends of the fan blades are secured to, or preferablyintegral with, a ring 38 to which the annular and upwardly flaring disc 39 is appropriately secured. The lower or inner edge of disc 39 is located slightly below the level of the lip 31 of the water elevator and the outer edge of the disk is in close proximity to the toothed annulus 3|. The film of water lifted by the cone 36 is thrown upon the upper surface of the disk 39 by the lip 31 of the cone, and is projected upon the atomizing teeth by the disk. The efficiency of evaporation is increased and the quantity of air leaving the outlet 6 is also increased when an annular shield 39 is mounted on the member to overlie the outer edge of disc 39. The shield 39' precludes a flow of air to the fan from the region of the atomizer blades, thus preventing a short circuit of the air current around the disk 39.

The amount of water fed by the disc, and the consequent amount of evaporation can be governed by the level of water maintained, and this is governed by the setting of the feed Valve 43.

It has been found by experiment that in this type of humidifier the percentage relation between water reaching the disc 39 and the amount evaporated is practically constant up to the full capacity of the apparatus. To vary the amount of air handled, the pitch of the fan may be varied, and to change both the amount of air handled and the amount of water evaporated, the speed of the motor may be changed. Although the fan used may be of variable pitch and the motor of.

variable speed, it has been found in practice that satisfactory results are obtained by using motors of either 1750 or 3500 revolutions per minute with fans of pitches to suit.

As hereinbefore indicated, the design and arrangement of the nozzle 6 are such as to give the most satisfactory results. Not only is the effluent, moisture-laden air emitted at such an angle as not to annoy occupants of the room, it being so directed as to pass over their heads, but the streamline form of the nozzle will effectively eliminate from the air stream such objectionably' large particles of moisture as would ordinarily cause dampness and spotting.

Various changes and modifications are considered to be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

. 1. In a humidifier, a unit for breaking up water into particles which may be entrained in and evaporated by an air current, said unit including rotative members and a driving motor therefor, a casing having partition means for segregating entrant air from effluent moisture-laden air, said partition means affording a relatively rigid support for said unit, and a flexible sleeve connecting: said partition means and unit and providing a continuation of said partition means, said flexible sleeve supporting said unit with relation to said partition means and acting as a vibration damper and sound deadener between said unit and casing.

2. In a humidifier, a casing, partition means in said casing providing a passage for entrant air and a passage for eflluent moisture-laden air, a unit for breaking up water into particles which may be entrained in and evaporated by an air current, said unit including a motor, a member providing a mounting for said motor, flexible means for supporting said member upon said par-' tition means and for enclosingsaid motor within said entrant air passage, said flexible means acting as a vibration damper and sound deadener between said unit and casing.

3. In a humidifier, a water pan, a humidifier unit, including a rotative elevator member adaptedto pick up the water from said pan and discharge it substantially radially, an annular disk rotatable with said elevator member and having its inner circumferential edge radially spaced therefrom to provide an air passage, said disk arranged to receive the water discharged from said elevator member and redischarge it, means. encircling the periphery of said disk and against which the water is discharged by said disk to be broken up into particles which may be entrained in an air current induced through said passage, a fan in said air passage and rotatable with said elevator member and disk for inducing a downward air current which is deflected upwardly about said encircling means by the water in said pan, and including a shield associated with said encircling means to prevent an inflow of air to said fan through said encircling means.

4. In a humidifier, a water container, a motor above said container and having a vertically arranged shaft extending towards the same, a water elevator connected to said shaft and having one end extending into said container and its upper end provided with means for discharging water radially therefrom, an annular disk having its lower inner edge positioned above and spaced radially from the water discharging means of said elevator to provide an air passage, a ring of'atomizing blades closely surrounding the upper outer edge of said disk, a fan mounted on said shaft to create an air current through said passage, and shield means preventing a short circuit of the air current around said disk.

5. In a humidifier, a water container, a humidifier unit, including a rotatable water elevator member having one end extending into said container and its other end provided with a radially offstanding lip, an annular disk arranged adjacent to said elevator member and having its inner circumferential edge extending below and radially spaced from the radial lip of said member to provide an annular air passage, a ring of atomizer blades surrounding the outer edge of said annular disk, a fan for inducing a current of air through said passage, means for rotating said elevator member, disk and fan, said fan being positioned above said outstanding lip of said elevator member and constituting means mechanically connecting said annular disk to rotating means.

6. In a humidifier, a water container, a humidifier unit, including a rotatable water elevator member having one end extending into said container and its other end provided with a radially ofistanding lip, an annular disk arranged adjacent to said elevator member and having its inner circumferential edge positioned above and radially spaced from said member to provide an annular air passage, a ring of atomizer blades surrounding the outer edge of said disk, a fan mechanically connecting said annular disk to said elevator and adapted to induce a current of air through said passage, means for rotating said fan and thereby the elevator member and disk connected thereto, and shield means preventing air fiow to said fan from said ring of atomizer blades.

'7. In a humidifier, a water pan, a humidifier unit, including a conical elevator member rotatable about a vertical axis and adapted to pick up water from said pan adjacent to its small end and discharge it substantially radially from its larger end, an upwardly flaring annular disk rotatable with said elevator member and having its inner circumferential edge positioned below and radially spaced from the larger end of said elevator member to provide an annular air passage, means encircling the periphery of said disk and against which the water is discharged by said disk to be broken up into particles, and a fan positioned above the water-discharging end of said elevator member and rotatable with said elevator member and disk for creating an air current downwardly through said passage, said fan constituting the sole mechanical connection of said disk to said elevator member and comprising a plurality of blades extending radially across said annular passage.

8. In a humidifier, a water pan, a humidifier unit, including a rotative conical elevator member adapted to pick up water from said pan adjacent to its small end and discharge it at its large end substantially radially, an annular disk rotatable with said elevator member and having its inner circumferential edge located below and radially spaced from the water-discharging end of said elevator member to provide an annular air passage, said disk arranged to receive the water discharged from said elevator member and redischarge it, a toothed annulus encircling the periphery of said disk and against the teeth of which the water is discharged by said disk to be broken up into particles, a fan in said air passage and rotatable with said elevator member and disk for inducing a downward air current through said air passage, the air current being deflected upwardly about the exterior of said toothed annulus by the water in said pan, and means above said fan substantially preventing said fan from drawing an air current through said toothed annulus.

9. In a humidifier, a water tank, an atomizer in communication with said tank, a motor driving said atomizer, means for establishing a stream of moist air surrounding said motor, means for establishing a stream of dry air substantially concentric with said moist air stream, and a sound absorbent partition separating said air streams and positioned adjacent said motor.

10. In a humidifier, a water tank, an atomizer in communication with said tank, a motor driving said atomizer, means for establishing a stream of moist air surrounding said motor, means for establishing a stream of dry air substantially concentric with said moist air stream, and a partition separating said air streams and positioned adjacent said motor, said partition including a sound absorbent material.

11. In a humidifier, a casing, a water tank within said casing, an atomizer for withdrawing water from said tank and atomizing the same, a motor driving said atomizer, wall means within said casing defining a moist air passage and a dry air passage substantially coaxial therewith, said passages surrounding said motor and said wall means including a sound absorbing partition between said passages, and fan means for establishing a flow of air through said passages.

12. A humidifier as claimed in claim 11, wherein said dry air passage is Within said moist air passage, and said motor is positioned in said dry air passage in the path of the air flowing therethrough.

13. A humidifier as claimed in claim 11, wherein said passages merge into each other at said atomizer.

FREDERIC F. BAHNSON. 

